By Eileen Buckley & Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – An unrelenting lake effect snow storm finally loosened its grip on the metro Buffalo region late Thursday.
The National Weather Service lifted its lake effect snow warning for the immediate Buffalo region shortly before 9pm. The warning continues in Southern Erie County through 6am Friday, while a less severe lake snow advisory is posted through 4pm Friday in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.
Accumulations in the hardest hit areas of West Seneca, South Buffalo, Lancaster and Depew exceeded two feet.
Travel bans continued late Thursday in South Buffalo, West Seneca, Lackawanna and Depew.
Officials in Cheektowaga and Lancaster recommended no unnecessary travel.
As of 9pm Thursday, the Thruway was closed westbound from Exit 51 at the Kensington Expressway to Exit 56 in Blasdell and eastbound from Exit 57 in Hamburg to Exit 51.
Some motorists stuck in their cars along the State Thruway were transported Thursday afternoon to a warming station set up inside the Town of Cheektowaga's Senior Center.
West Seneca Central, Cheektowaga-Sloan and Lancaster Central schools will be closed Friday because of the storm.